Huge Puffback!

franco b wrote:

I'm On Fire wrote:About pouring in vermiculite, I'm not sure how well it'll work.

You can just stuff some fiberglass into the gaps to hold back the mica.

Well, I did stuff some insulation up into the throat.

musikfan6 wrote:This is a very interesting thread, folks. I"ve been reading about these puffbacks now for a while. I guess those of you who have a furnace get a much larger reaction. My FB does something like this, but only if I take the lid off my hopper too fast, or if I open the stove door too quickly. The worst is the lid on the hopper. The first time I did it, the blue flames jumped out of the hole a good 6 inches (the hopper was almost full). I know that might not seem like a lot, but it was enough to scare me. You get that "whoosh" and up come the blue flames. It's quick, but it still takes you by surprise. So of course I've learned my lesson on that. Don't blow yourselves up!

Good day to you all!

I am surprised to read this. I have never had even a hint of puff back from these stoves using all three sizes.

Puff backs occur when gas accumulates faster than it can be exhausted or burned. When you open the door it gets air enough to burn and poof. Because I felt and feel that some over fire air at all times is necessary to burn both initial gas and later carbon monoxide I added air in my stoves by drilling several holes in the lower flange that the stove butts against. They also help in keeping fly ash from accumulating there.

franco b wrote:

musikfan6 wrote:This is a very interesting thread, folks. I"ve been reading about these puffbacks now for a while. I guess those of you who have a furnace get a much larger reaction. My FB does something like this, but only if I take the lid off my hopper too fast, or if I open the stove door too quickly. The worst is the lid on the hopper. The first time I did it, the blue flames jumped out of the hole a good 6 inches (the hopper was almost full). I know that might not seem like a lot, but it was enough to scare me. You get that "whoosh" and up come the blue flames. It's quick, but it still takes you by surprise. So of course I've learned my lesson on that. Don't blow yourselves up!

Good day to you all!

I am surprised to read this. I have never had even a hint of puff back from these stoves using all three sizes.

Puff backs occur when gas accumulates faster than it can be exhausted or burned. When you open the door it gets air enough to burn and poof. Because I felt and feel that some over fire air at all times is necessary to burn both initial gas and later carbon monoxide I added air in my stoves by drilling several holes in the lower flange that the stove butts against. They also help in keeping fly ash from accumulating there.

So then what do you suspect is happening with my stove?? Not enough air?? It doesn't happen every time. It's usually when the hopper is really full.

musikfan6 wrote:So then what do you suspect is happening with my stove?? Not enough air?? It doesn't happen every time. It's usually when the hopper is really full.

The only way I can see that happening is if the hopper was empty when you filled it and then shook down the stove. Normally the coal dispensed from the hopper is partially turned to coke so gas build up is not as severe as in a stove without a hopper. If when you open the top hatch and the hopper is empty, load a smaller amount and then come back in 15 minutes and fill it. The hopper should always have enough coal in it to feed the next shake plus a little more. Top off after every shake.

To add a little air you can do as I did and drill some small holes in the flange that the door butts against. This will mostly aid in burning the gas with a low fire when the thermostat is is set lower. It will also keep the glass cleaner.

The Surdiac which has a similar set up has a series of holes right in the casting that holds the glass.

I've been getting good a predicting puffbacks! Rarely get them, and when I do they are small. I've had some ash blow out of the intake vents before, nothing major. Well, went through the routine of tending the stove today. I was crunched for time so I open the intake a bit more than I normally do. The fresh load of coal was on the larger side. I normally fill in stages with large loads and keep the air dialed down a bit. You could predict the rest of this story! I heard a low woosh from the other room. Walked in to see a light haze of ash floating around the stove. I looked outside and saw a huge ball of ash, HUGE! No need to clean my chimney now . Checked all the flue joints, all is well. Just thought I would brighten everyones day!

Well I'm sad to say I too had a huge puffback or more of a huge explosion The week of warm weather the boiler was idiling along for a couple days. The first day of the each month I turn the oil gun on and run the temps up then switch back to coal mode.I didn't think much of it and shook down then loaded with fresh coal.Well about 2 hrs. later I happened to be sitting directly above the boiler and KABOOM ,and I felt the floor lift under my feet.After wiping myself,I slowly crept down the steps and peeked to see if all was well,the basement was full of sulfer smell and dust,the chimney clean out door blown open,but all was good after checking the pipes.
Next time I run the boiler up with the oil gun,I must remember to put a load on the boiler and make sure the coal bed is glowing before reloading